9:13 PM,
Mar. 25, 2013

Locals enjoy food and drink on Thirsty Thursday at McCormick Field. It is one of the locations managed by the city that accommodates many nonresidents.

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City and county government could pool parks and recreation facilities under a bill that sponsor state Rep. Nathan Ramsey said could ease Asheville's costs to run regional attractions.

The bill would allow for creation of an authority that could operate a merged city-county parks department or just certain sites with heavy use by noncity residents, such as the U.S. Cellular Center, WNC Nature Center, McCormick Field, Municipal Golf Course and Aston Park Tennis Center.

Funding for the authority would come from the proceeds of a countywide property tax of up to 7 cents per $100 valuation. The ...